Six men are presently in the hands of the law, facing charges related to an alleged abduction of three family members and a nanny from a Chicago townhouse in October 2024. According to court records recently made public, the victims were coerced into transferring $15 million worth of cryptocurrency to their captors before being released days later near a dry cleaner.
The startling details of the five-day ordeal were unveiled in a 44-page FBI affidavit, made public just last week, as reported by the Chicago Tribune. The FBI investigation team leveraged an array of evidence sources in their probe, including receipts, unused zip ties, and surveillance footage, obtained from rental cars, a suburban Airbnb, and fast-food restaurants. The court records also highlighted the use of cryptocurrency wallets accessed during the illicit act.
The chain of events was set in motion when a suspect, pretending to have accidentally damaged the victims’ garage door, knocked on their townhouse door. As the door was opened, a group of armed men burst into the house, subduing and seizing the occupants. The victims were subsequently transported to an Airbnb rental where they were coerced into transferring cryptocurrency under the threat of violence.
Despite the high-pressure situation, including a chilling instance where a victim was struck with a firearm, the captives were relatively well-treated during their confinement. Their captors provided food from fast-food restaurants. After a harrowing five days, the victims were released near a dry cleaner, from where they secured an Uber to a hospital.
In response to the crime, authorities swiftly initiated an investigation, resulting in the arrest of one suspect, Zehuan Wei, in January 2025. However, it is believed that the other suspects have taken flight to China, with $9 million of the stolen cryptocurrency still missing. The FBI is doggedly tracking the funds and working in tandem with international law enforcement to apprehend the remaining suspects.
This case underscores the increasing relevance of digital currencies in both legal and illicit transactions, highlighting the importance for law enforcement agencies globally to adapt their investigative techniques to keep up with these rapidly evolving financial trends. It also serves as a sobering reminder of the potential link between the increasing value of cryptocurrencies and the rise in related criminal activities.
